Study Abroad:
Benefits, Limitations and Key to Success

By Alessandra Rosa Fantasia

   It has been observed that individuals benefit from educational travel as it broadens the mind and allows people to learn from experiences that they are exposed to. Empirical evidence about the education outcomes of travel is scattered across many fields of study. Biographies of renown artists and scientists demonstrate how their work was inspired by the places they traveled to and people/cultures they met. Influential members of our society attest the positive impact that study/work abroad experiences have had in developing their professional and personal profile. Universities and colleges make great efforts to offer opportunities by increasing partnerships and exchange programs with foreign academic/research institutions. Nevertheless, all studies show that educational travel remains expensive and prohibitive for those students who do not have the financial power to sustain the cost. In order to be successful programs must be able to provide sufficient funding to allow students from low income families to participate. I will be describing the role that study/work abroad programs play in preparing students to face future challenges. Governments and policy makers have acknowledged the importance of educational travel in developing global citizenship and eliminating cultural barriers. Countries are investing in study abroad programs and are making great efforts to make these viable to students from lower income families. Governments are ready to invest on educational travel because study abroad programs are ensuring their next generation is competitive and ready to face the global challenges that lay ahead.

   Education and travel have been intertwined throughout history. First linkage of learning and travel are found in diaries created during the Roman Empire. Some of which narrate the adventures of cohorts of young soldiers who travelled to remote areas of the empire to familiarize with the latest conquered regions and learn battle techniques used by neighboring populations. The diaries document their experiences, the people they met, and the things they learned through their journey. Between the 17th and 19th century the Grand Tour, traditional trip of Europe undertaken by upper class young men, allowed young Americans and British to prepare for careers leading to foreign service. During this period, they learned how they would be effected and how they could affect people in other countries. History provides endless opportunities to reflect on the importance of travel and the impact it has on individuals. Statements from historical figures such as Indira Gandhi (Former Prime Minister of India) emphasize the impact of travel. She once stated, “The world was my university”. The reason of travel could be deliberate or accidental; still it can provide a positive impact. Looking at the case of young Einstein who studied in four different countries while escaping Nazism and managed to successfully develop his knowledge to the great scientist we all know.

   Per research, and surveys conducted around universities, study abroad is “better defined as learning through experience abroad” (Petrick and Stone 736). Study abroad is considered one of the best collegiate experiences, as it catapults students in a new setting filled with challenges and opportunities. Study abroad can change your view of the world completely. Being exposed to the diversity of the world, “students are given the opportunity to learn the reality of real life locations and people” (Saitow 16). By breaking away from their everyday habits, students become more independent, and develop self-confidence, global engagement, and language learning. “Students are encouraged to look deeper, to access and enhance their critical thinking skills” (Saitow 16) through peer and group consultation. There are many benefits to study abroad, some of which include intellectual and cognitive knowledge growth of geography, history, political/social issues and culture. Studies show that “children’s learning through travel can result in broadening a child’s world view and learning generic life skills (e.g., problem solving, patience, and flexibility), math, map reading, and values of other cultures” (Petrick and Stone 738). Therefore researchers encourage, recommend that parents take kids with them when traveling to foreign countries. Another reason why kids should start traveling as soon as possible is shown, “in an unpublished study, Explorica (2011) surveyed 600 adult Americans (300 who had traveled outside of the U.S. between ages 12 and 19 and 300 who had not, revealing that those who had traveled outside of the U.S. were almost twice as likely to attain college degree or postgraduate work (67% vs. 34%), be employed full-time (61% vs. 40%), and report a higher household income ($72,300 vs. $52,000)” (Petrick and Stone 739). Students with international travel experiences are exposed to different cultures, and may experience difficulties in communication making them improve their problem-solving skills. “Other increases in knowledge resulting from study abroad that have been found include learning about the unknown, another culture/cultural sophistication, and global understanding” (Petrick and Stone 736).

   There are however a few limitations that need to be addressed. The cost of study abroad programs are often prohibitive for students that do not come from a high-income household willing to finance the initiative. Data shows that 72% of the study abroad population comes from the top 10 industrialized countries in the world. Students from low income countries have very slim chances to participate in these programs. In addition to individual financial constraints, students from low income countries have limited study abroad partnership programs to choose from. These countries are considered too dangerous and underdeveloped to attract foreign students from industrialized countries and for this reason American and European universities tend to not create partnerships in these geographical areas. These countries partner mostly with academic institutions of neighboring countries, de facto limiting their student mobility.

   Another burning issue that educational travel faces is the need of strong planning and structure of the programs to ensure courses/exams taken by the student while in the host university are later recognized by the originating university. Literature indicates that credit conversion is seldom possible; normality is that study abroad programs interrupt the students’ path towards earning their degree (“Erasmus Programme”). Students participating in study abroad programs are often forced to extend their time in college by one or two semesters to make up for the “lost” time. This problem not only discourages participation of student eager to get out of college in the normal four-year term, it is a strong financial deterrent. As the student needs to secure funding for the study abroad expenses, keeping in mind the extra time they will need to stay in college to complete their degree.

   In most instances, educational travel is seen as an individual’s initiative to do something different, to go off the beaten track; the benefits that the community receives from this phenomenon is often ignored. It is crucial for governments to look at the matter from a different perspective and recognize the great value educational travel can bring. Countries have a vested interest in ensuring their students become global citizens, can navigate multicultural environments, and are prepared to confront with new challenges. When students travel to study in a foreign country, he/she is creating a value for himself but also to the communities he/she is originating from and going to. People who will interact with the student will be exposed to his culture, understand better his views and learn from his methods. When the student returns to his country he/she will have a unique baggage of experiences and skills that he will utilize throughout his life.

   In literature, there are many examples of study abroad programs funded by nations. In most cases, these countries have limited tertiary education institutions that are willing to provide scholarships to students who come to study in prestigious US/European colleges as long as the student returns to work in their country of origin (“Erasmus Programme”). Countries such as Azerbaijan and Armenia have run these programs for over 10 years.

   Another example of success government sponsored initiative is the Erasmus. Erasmus is the European exchange program that gives students the opportunity to improve their skills and work capacities through travel, study abroad, and internship opportunities around Europe and away from home. The Erasmus program started in 1987 after a well-executed 7-year pilot which allowed to set down the foundations of the program and estimate the resources and funding needed to guarantee its’ execution (“Erasmus Programme”). Funded by the European Union, the program was designed as a vehicle to promote mobility of students across member countries. The objective of the initiative was very ambitious: “The Erasmus student should not only enhance their own educational profile but also become some kind of uber-European, with a de facto ambassadorial role of providing a symbol of integration to the European institutions and acting as a role model for peers, with the ultimate aim of establishing a new generation of less nationally oriented Europeans” (Cairns 728). Schools are giving their students the opportunity to study abroad, hoping in the future this experience will open more doors for them, and allow them to better candidates for future job opportunities.

   “Since the start of the initiative, over three million students, trainees and academic staff members have participated in (Erasmus) exchanges, involving roughly a quarter of a million individuals each year, creating a working example of cross-border cooperation and inter-cultural learning” (Cairns 728). Recent stats indicate that 5% of European graduates have participated in Erasmus initiatives. Large participation to the program was possible as, unlike most of the exchange programs around the world, Erasmus provides students with: scholarships, access to dorms and other subsidized facilities. Erasmus’ financial support package plays a crucial role in the success of the program, the support package has proved to provide sufficient means to ensure broad participation from low income families which otherwise would not been able to participate in this awesome experience.

   An additional merit of the Erasmus program is the ability to ensure work executed by the student during the study abroad period will be accepted towards the degree by the originating college. The rules of the study abroad period is formalized in a contract that is signed by the student and the two supervisors (one from the originating college and one from the hosting college). The contract clearly states the duration, location, and educational objectives of the travel. Along with this it lists the research work or courses the student must complete, and indicates how this work will be recognized by the originating college once the student returns. This contract ensures all parties are aware of their responsibilities and for many students provides a first exposure to a contractual agreement (“Erasmus Programme”).

   The research I conducted demonstrates that educational travel is now more commonly available than it was in the past. A growing number of students of all countries and fields of study participate in study abroad programs. Articles and data seem to suggest that US study abroad programs are less developed and structured than the ones offered in Europe. Europeans have more structured programs. In addition to the Erasmus, many European universities have built partnerships and share joint degree programs that allow students to study for a year in their partner college and earn the degree from both institutions. Similar programs are also available in the US (ex. College of William and Mary partners with a St James College in Scotland) however they tend to be rarer and restricted to very few students. Literature seems to suggest that other countries are pushing for their students to go out in the world and experience studying abroad. This push is not evident for the US. This observation does not surprise me, given that non-English speaking countries traditionally stimulated their students to travel outside their country to improve their knowledge of English. However, Americans do not feel the need to learn any foreign language. Nevertheless, literature widely illustrates the benefits of educational travel and US students should be more stimulated and supported in participating to these initiatives. Travel has been proven to bring people together, increase culture awareness, and smoothen boundaries; it is of paramount importance for US students to familiarize with foreign cultures, demonstrate awareness of world issues, and prepare to become global players.